At the risk of stating the obvious, it’s hard to find the best paint color for your house’s exterior. White is a classic, but choose the wrong shade and you’ll end up with a very expensive mistake. We wanted to take the guesswork out of choosing the best white paint for your house, so we asked the architect and designer members of our Professional Directory to share their vetted shades of exterior white paint. They’ve painted countless houses over the years, and know what works. Here, they generously share their 10 favorites. What’s your go-to shade of white paint? Tell us in the comments below. Swatch photographs by Katie Newburn for Gardenista. Above: Top row, left to right: Benjamin Moore Brilliant White; Benjamin Moore Simply White; Farrow & Ball All White; Benjamin Moore White Heron. Bottom row: Sherwin-Williams Pure White; Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee; Benjamin Moore Linen White; Porter Paints Atrium White; and Benjamin Moore Cloud White. Above: On this house in Connecticut, Brooklyn-based O’neill Rose Architects used low-luster Benjamin Moore Brilliant White, which principal Devin O’Neill calls “a standard that always looks good.”

The firm worked with Donald Kaufman on the palette for the house, and chose Donald Kaufman Color DKC-44 in semi-gloss for the porch and ceiling. Above: Interior designer Meg Joannides of MLK Studio in LA recently completed this Brentwood Park home. On the exterior, she used Sherwin-Williams Pure White, a true white that barely hints toward warm. used wedding reception centerpieces for saleThe charcoal gray shutters are painted in Benjamin Moore Onyx.ideas for wall decoration diy Above: Architect Tim Barber chose Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee for this new house in Santa Monica. decorating ideas for bedroom office

The color is also a favorite of SF Bay Area–based designer Nicole Hollis. Above: Donald Billinkoff of Billinkoff Architecture in NYC rarely uses any other white than Benjamin Moore White Heron. Says Billinkoff, “In bright light it is warm and in low light it is bright.” Above: NYC-based 2Michaels worked with midcentury antiques dealer Larry Weinberg in choosing Benjamin Moore Simply White for this outdoor room on Martha’s Vineyard. christmas ornaments decorating ideasInterior designer Kriste Michelini also recommends this shade.decorating ideas for bedroom windows Above: LA-based DISC Interiors painted the exterior of this Loz Feliz home in Crystal Haze from Dunn-Edwards. home decor company jobs

This shade has the deepest tan inflection of the paints recommended here. Above: SF Bay Area designer Nicole Hollis chose Farrow & Ball All White as her pick–the whitest white of our recommendations. In this image from Farrow & Ball, the door and metalwork are painted in Pitch Black. Above: Nashville architect Marcus DiPietro chose PPG Porter Paints Atrium White for the exterior of this modern, Japanese-influenced home in Oak Hill, Tennessee. Next to Linen White (below), Atrium White is the second warmest of the bunch. Above: NYC-based Steven Harris Architects painted this Upper West Side townhouse in Benjamin Moore’s Cloud White. Photograph by Elizabeth Felicella. Above: SF Bay Area-based landscape architecture firm Pedersen Associates admires Benjamin Moore’s Linen White, shown here on a house in Mill Valley. Says principal Pete Pedersen, “Here in Northern California, the quality of light is such that you need to take a little off of the whites to keep from too much reflective glare.”

Linen White is the warmest of the 10 whites shown here. Looking for a shade of white to paint an indoor room? See 10 Easy Pieces: Architects’ White Paint Picks. We also consulted architects for their picks for exterior shades of gray and black. This is an update of a post originally published September 11, 2013. ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,Ultra Pure White Semi-Gloss Enamel Exterior Paint Set your store to see localavailabilityUltra Pure White Satin Enamel Exterior PaintUltra Pure White Flat Exterior Paint #MQ3-36 Translucent Silk Paint #MQ3-20 Whipped Mint Paint #MQ3-28 Rock Crystal Paint #MQ3-31 Dutch White Paint #MQ3-13 Crisp Linen Paint#MQ3-34 Stolen Kiss Semi-Gloss Enamel Exterior Paint #MQ3-9 Loft Light Paint #MQ3-19 Misty Isle Paint #PPU8-16 Coliseum Marble Exterior Paint #MQ5-50 Opal Waters Paint #MQ3-25 Gray Shimmer Paint #MQ2-59 Silver City Paint #MQ3-45 Looking Glass Paint #MQ3-24 Celestial Light Paint

#MQ3-57 Siberian Ice Semi-Gloss Enamel Exterior Paint #N510-3 Stargazer Exterior Paint #MQ3-55 White Lie Paint #MQ2-8 Irish Cream Paint #MQ3-53 Sky Light View Paint #MQ3-4 Quiet on the Set Paint Set your store to see localavailabilityBob Vila PER Week The latest in news, tips, & inspiration delivered right to your inbox. 13 Home Improvements That Are Illegal to DIY 20 Insanely Easy 60-Minute Home Improvements10 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Critter-Free 22 Tiny Houses We Love WHAT DO YOU NEED HELP WITH? 15 Old House Features We Were Wrong to Abandon Beyond Ikea: 10 Other Places to Get Affordable Furniture Tour the 14 Most Expensive Airbnbs in the World The 10 Best Accessories You Can Buy for Your Car Bathroom Envy: 15 Jaw-Dropping Rooms We Love 21 Home Hacks That Are Crazy Enough to Work 8 Low-Cost Kits for a 21st-Century Log Cabin From classic to bold, showcase your style outside your home with inspiration from these exterior paint color schemes that offer serious curb appeal — and beckon visitors inside.

Photo By: Laura Hull Photo By: Cesar Rubio Photo By: Frontier Group ©Photographed by Frontier Group Photo By: Jennifer Boomer/Getty Images © 2014, Scripps Networks, LLC. Symmetrical homes evoke a sense of formality, elegance and heritage. Honor tradition with a lighter-colored palette rimmed by darker accents. This home softens into its surroundings, while a bright blue door spotlights the elegant architecture of the entryway. Paint colors: Churchill Hotel Ivory, Betsy's Linen and Lake Breeze by Valspar Staying true to its surroundings, this large home's ocean blue color reflects the seaside nearby. Paint the front door in an unexpected saturated hue, such as royal purple, for a playful yet stylish look. Paint colors: Blue Sarong, Sultana and Pure White by Behr This home gives a subtle nod to Tudor style with its brown accents but is thoroughly contemporary with a bright coat of mustard yellow. For such a statement, opt for a neutrally stained wood door.

Paint colors: Classic Gold, Nugget Gold and Smooth Silk by Behr This transitional home takes a cue from its woodland setting with a cool color palette. Syncing up with nature's tones is a sure way to evoke sensations of a calm and serene abode. Paint colors: Environmental, Marsh Marigold and Ultra Pure White by Behr Capture sophistication and elegance with a muted blue-gray color palette accented by white trim. The traditional front door is painted a deep navy-turquoise to complement the slate gray wood shingle siding. Paint colors: Intergalactic, Polar Bear and Deep Breath by Behr A modern beach house warms in the sun with a custard yellow glow, grounded by a cinnamon stick front door. Pure white accents on the windows contribute to the crisp and clean vibe. Paint colors: Roasted Corn, Artisan and Ultra Pure White by Behr To create a focal point at your front door, paint your entire exterior in similar shades of one color family. In this case, neutral hues of peach direct the eye to the green front door.

Paint colors: Crescent Cream, Deer Valley and Inverness by Sherwin-Williams You typically see modern style homes dressed in neutral tones, but the saturated yellow exterior of this home makes a statement. To subdue the tone, a soft gray covers most of the front exterior, while the yellow is present in smaller doses. Paint colors: Golden Yellow and Voyage by Valspar Levy Art + Architecture Make a nod to your home's environment with a color palette that matches its surroundings but still packs curb appeal. This traditional home's soft pine green base pops with an accent of sky blue and an understated creamy white door. Paint colors: Nature's Gift, Restless Sea and Twinkling Lights by Behr This eye-catching traditional exterior is rooted into its landscape with an earthy palette of taupe, beige, brown and red. Choose muted hues for a warm, sun-baked look. Paint colors: Tavern Taupe, Pavillion Beige, Homestead Brown and Rustic Red by Sherwin-Williams If you have a Craftsman-style home with intricate architectural details, stick to muted tones to allow your home's design to shine. 

Paint colors: Renwich Olive, Cut the Mustard and High Reflective White by Sherwin-Williams Fixer Upper's Chip and Joanna Gaines gave this home's outdated brick exterior an update with blue-green paint. The dark wood trim provides an eye-catching contrast. Paint color: Something Blue by Sherwin-Williams Make a bold statement with warm and earthy red, a color that looks exceptional on traditional homes. Pair with a cool blue door and beige shutters for a classy all-American vibe. Paint colors: Crabby Apple, Homburg Gray and Prairie Grass by Sherwin-Williams Modern dwellings maintain a warm, yet minimalist vibe with a neutral palette of brown, gray and gold. The lightest brown covers the majority of this home, allowing darker accent colors to highlight the home's architectural details. Paint colors: Bay Sands, Chocolate Cherry and Winter Delta by Valspar Classic American homes with covered front porches, stonework, stucco and steep roofs benefit from natural color palettes.

This simple yet sophisticated combination of soft taupe with an accent of olive is the perfect backdrop for a colorful landscape. Paint colors: Woodrow Wilson Putty, City Arboretum and Chef White by Valspar Gain inspiration for your color palette from your home's materials. This Southwest-style home uses tones of natural clay and dark brown, as seen in the natural stone and woodwork. Paint colors: Bonsai Pot and Sweet Molasses by Behr Many Victorian homes showcase an explosion of colors in their exterior paint schemes. Keep it soothing and simple: warm peach siding laced with red-tinted brown and cream trim. Paint colors: Pale Coral, Royal Liqeur and Sleek White by Behr Spanish-style homes make a statement with accent colors. In this case, a warm navy blue picks up watery tones of the home's lap pool. Paint colors: Dhurrie Beige, Kestrel White and Rainstorm by Sherwin-Williams Show off the texture of exterior siding with a bold color choice such as sky blue trimmed with cream and beige.

On cloudy days, your house will be the brightest on the block. Paint colors: Labradorite, Nacre and Artifact by Sherwin-Williams If your home's architecture has an unconventional style — like this Fixer Upper country-style home — paint the exterior in a crisp, clean white color. Keep it simple by accenting with a few natural accents. Paint color: Extra White by Sherwin-Williams Inspired by the surrounding Utah mountains and river water, HGTV Dream Home 2012's color palette adds a modern touch to its rustic design style. Paint colors: Blue Eyes and Antique White by Valspar A Craftsman bungalow home beckons visitors inside with a warm, neutral palette in gray and white. The porch pops with a painted carpet of green. Paint colors: Collonade Gray, Panda White, Roycroft Brass and Roycroft Copper Red by Sherwin-Williams A contemporary ranch home sits pretty in a bed of green. Simple white trim draws attention to architectural details, including the home's distinctive sun-baked brown roof.

Paint colors: Riverdale and Ultra Pure White by Behr A traditional home sticks to timeless neutrals with a black and white palette. This is one color scheme that will definitely not go out of style. Paint colors: Falling Snow and Carbon by Behr High-contrast landscapes call for high-contrast color palettes. This desert ranch stays cool with a white exterior and an accent of chocolate brown trim. The beauty of this color combo? Any accent color can be chosen for outdoor furniture and decorations. Paint colors: Cottage White and Divine Wine by Behr Who said beige has to be boring? This exterior color palette provides a neutral backdrop to the home's lush green landscaping. Paint colors: Grassy Savannah, Ancient Root and Polar Bear by Behr Dark gray wood trim panels above the windows accent the Tudor-style home, while a light gray exterior cools down the lush landscape backdrop. Paint color: Du Jour and Beguile by Valspar If your home's traditional exterior doesn't suit your style, spruce it up with cheerful, contrasting hues.